Artillery war game



Feb. 1, 1949. c. H. sHlRl-:Y

ARTILLERY WAR GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April '7, 1948 .mfk

.N .mu NY ws @46m Feb. 1, 1.949. c. H. sHlREY l 2,460,770

ARTILLERY wAR GAME Filed April 7, 1948 s shets-sheet 2 Feb. l, 1949.

Filed April 7,4 1948 C. H. SHIREY ARTILLERY WAR GAME 3 Sheets-Shea?l 5 Patented Feb. 1, 1949 narran STATES OFFICE i The present invention relates to a :game board, and is more particularly concerned with an electrically operated and controlled amusement apparatus simulating, in use, a gunnery du-el or battle between` two (or more) opposing contestants or`forces--specically, an artillery duel or battle.

An object of the invention is the provision of an electrically operated and controlled game board, `oil. the type described, permitting each yof two (or more) contestants to operate electrical apparatus simulating the training of a gun, or similar missile-thrower, on a target and the discharging of a missile therefrom, and to operate auxiliary apparatus whose function is, in effect, to spoil the aim of an opposing con-V testant. Another inventive object is the provision of an artillery war game in which each particular contestants gun-aiming mechanism is manually controllable by that contestant vand simultaneously is unpredictably controllable by an opposing contestant. Additional objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and of the appended claims.

The game board of the` present invention includes a playing surface, which playing surface may vbe and preferably is carried on a panel covering a last, box-like, cabinet; preferably the panel is oblong and alfords playing space for two contestants. A target area is delineated adjacent each of the ends of the playing surface,

one and preferably a plurality of targeta each of which latter is an individually energizable element such, for instance, as a small electric light bulb. WhereA electric light bulbs are em' ployed, the targets may be portions of the bulbs .protruding through openings rprovided in the playing surface olr otherwise so disposed as to be visible from above said playing surface when energized.

Adjacent each such target area there is or may be mounted a model of a missile thrower, e. g., an artillery field piece (say a howitzer), simulating a defensive means for the adjacent target area and hence adding realism to the game. Said model may, if desired, be so constriucted as to emit a report at the instant of a play.

Also adjacent each end of the playing surface, and preferably in a space between the target area and the near end of the playing surface, there is positioned `a rotary switch means provided with a switch arm and carrying at least as many contact points as there are energizable 7 Claims. (Cl. 273-4012) 2 elements in the opposed target area and adapted, in combination with other element-s hereinafter to be described, to energize-particular elements i-n the opposed target area.

The targets may have particular game values associated therewith, which values may vary from a highest value for, say, a central target, through intermediate values for closely related targets, to a lowest value, yor a minus value, for the peripheral targets of the group.

So much of the device as has already been described permits each player, in succession, to re one or more missiles at his opponents target area and upon definite targets therein,l by operating his switch. Normally; a player could acquire, through experience, the knowledge as t-o which contact point on his switch operates any particular energizable element inhisopponents target area. However, the device also includes, for each player, manually operable means for spoiling the aim of hi-s opponent by disturbing, to an unpredictable extent, the nor- Such aim-disturbing -rneans will now be described in connection with a more detailed dey scription of the rotary switch and associated elements. Y

The rotary switch assembly includes a generally disc-like contacts-carrying member rotatable with respect to the playing sur-face, a switch arm s-wingable over the contacts lof the contactscarrying member and separately engageable with said contacts at will, means for imparting relative rotary movement to said switch arm by one player, and means for imparting relative rotary movement to said contacts-carrying member by the opposed player. Thus, each rotary switch assembly includes means for imparting relatively rotary movement to sai-d vcontacts-canrying member and to said switch arm` by the opposed players, respectively.

The rotatable contacts-carrying member preferably is -a disc provi-ded with a central opening and carrying the plurality of 'contact points adjacent its periphery, which disc is positioned substantially' parallel to the playing surface and may be and preferably is in the plane of the latter. The switch arm preferably is mounted, at one end thereof, on one end of a rotatable shaft, which latter is positioned in a plane normal to that of the switch discr and has an end extending through said central opening of the contacts- K `carrying member.

[contacts-carrying member. f

3 The switch arm is slotted radially with respect to its center of rotation and a contact member carried by the arm is displaceable longitudinally of the slot to bring it into and out :of engagement with any desiredY one off a circular array of cooperating stationary contacts on the switch disc. Preferably, said rotatable shaft is supported, at the end thereof remote from saidswitcharm, by. a rotatable bearing member 1adapted to hold said shaft lrotatable in a predetermined plane. A sleeve member` surrounds a portion of said shaft intermedi- 'ate the ends of the latter and is adapted to be moved relative with respect to said shaft. Said sleeve is fixed at one end thereof to said rotatable vEach of the electric light bulbs in one target area is connected, through the opposed rotary switch means, by suitable conductors with a n source of electric current.

' tuatable from-without the latter, at a point .re-

mote from the oppenents rotary switch, and preferably shielded from `the view of the opponent'. 1

While said aim-disturbing means may comprisea link-and-'lever mechanism, or chain and Vsprocket means, or other Vappropriate operative connections tov alter the effective selectedv relation of the contacts-.carrying member with respect-to the switchfarm of the opponents ro tary `switch means, said laim-disturbing means preferably includes a shaft positioned generally within the box but havingone end thereof eX- tending through an opening in the playing surface, a pulley nxedly mounted on said shaft advjacent the end .thereof .remote .from the playing surface, a pulley xedly mounted adjacent the lower end of the sleeve member ofthe opposed rotary switch means, and a suitable be1t,fband orvthe'like .trained over the two pulleys and .ef-

fective for vimparting movement of said Ashaft to saidfsleeve member. To thevexposed, upper, end

of said shaft there preferably is attached a thumb button, turning knob or the like for use in virnparting rotarymovement to said shaft, which knob Vis or may be shielded from the opposing players View by a suitableshielding means upstanding from 'the' playing surface. The shaft is `rotatably;supported, at the end thereof remote from ,the playing surface, on or by a suitable bearing; f

:By appropriately turning theknob of his aimdisturbing? means, aplayer may, at will, change the relative position of the contacts-carrying Vmember of yhis opponents rota-ry switch to an extentk not readily ascertainable -vbyv the opponent and hence tend to negative the possibility that the opponent may, .by experience, associate a-particular contact point on the latters rotary switch withany` particular energizable element in the players target area.

` The invention will now be described' in greater detail',` with `reference to the accompanying drawing, in' which:

Fig. 1V is a plan view of a game device embodying features of the'present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of therdcvice i1- lustrated in Fig. 1;`

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, sectional elevational view of an end portion of the game device illustrated in Fig. 1, showing details of the rotary switch and a form of mounting of the light bulbs in one target area;

Ation of a rotary switch, showing an optional ar- `neath the pulley member of the rotary switch shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is 'a wiring diagram schematically indicating the arrangement of the conductors and switch means.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the playing surface I of the device is represented as being thefentire uppersurface of the top panel 2 of an elongated rectangular, relatively at box 3. Reference numeral 4- indicates the ybottom panel of. the lbox 3. Sl and S2 are rotaryswitches for two'players. A1 and A2 are two target areas delineated on playing surface I, A1 being associated with rotary switch S1, and A2 being associated with rotary switch S2. Each of target areas A1 and A2 comprises a centrally located principal target 'I1 or T2, respectively, surrounded by a plurality-twenty-eight, as shownof subsidiary .targets grouped in three concentric circles. Each of vthese targeta both principal and subsidiary, is the tip end of a small electric light'bulbye. g., a flashlight bulb, protruding through an opening inpanel 2. D1 and D2 represent two aim-disturbing means; as indicated, D1 is spacially adjacent to rotary switch S1 but is functionally'connected to rotary switch S2,while D2 similarlyy is near S2 but isv adaptedy to function with respect to rotary `switch S1. G1 and G2 are modelsof artillery pieces and are mounted on panel 2 inv proximity to rotary ,switches Siv and S2, respectively. W1 and W2 are well-simulating plates so mounted, on panel 2, as toobscurethe turning knobs ofD1 and D2, respectively, from view by the opponent player. I

, lillig. 3` illustratesthe mode of mounting the target light bulbs; also, it shows details of structure of rotary switch S1. In this view, principal target vbulb 'I 2 is shown partially protruding throughopeningv II in panel 2'. VT2 is mounted in a socket i2. lUpright members I3 and I4 support a mounting board I5 substantially parallel to and somewhat below panel 2. Socket I2 is xed to and supported by mounting board i5. C2 representsv a cable orassemblage of conductors leading from rotary switch S2 (not shown A in Fig. 3) to target area A2. I6 Ais one of said conducto-rs and is the conductor connecting socket l2 with one'of the contact points on rotary switchv S2; Each ofthe other twenty-eight target bulbs included in target area A2 similarly partially protrudes through an'opening in panel 2, is similarly mounted in a socket supported by Ymounting board I5, and is similarly in contact with a particular conductor cable C2.

Clis a cable, similar yto cable C2, connecting thecontact points of rotary switch S1 with the sockets of the lightk bulbs constituting target areaA1.r

In the rotary switch, S1, shown in. Fig. 3, 2l) is a substantially vertical shaft supported at its lower end by `a bearing member 2l.: this latter is vertically adjustablymounted on block 22 supported on bottompanel 4.0i the device. 25 is a switch arm; it is fixed at one endthereof to the upper end of shaft 20, and is provided adjacent its other end witha contact button 26 secured to the underiace of'a knob 26a which is mounted to slide in a slot 2Gb extendingr'adially in switch arm25. tiis the contacts-carrying member of rotary'switch S1. It is a circular disc' having an outstanding flange about the periphery at the upper edge of the latter, and is provided with a circular array of equally spaced stationary con. tactfpoints 30a. It is provided with a central opening33 through which the upper end of shaft 2U extends, said shaft being free to turn in said opening.` The` contacts-carrying member 30 is rotatable in circular'opening 3l provided in panel 2 and is supported `on the latter by engagement of saidV flange on the stepped rim of opening 3|.l` =32 is a sleeve member, rotatable about shaft 20which is fixed at the upperend thereof to contacts-carrying member Sil. 34 is a peripherally grooved pulley fxedly mounted on sleeve member 32 adjacent the lower end of the latter. At 35 is indicated a round belt which is trained over pulley 34 `and over a similar pulley on the shaft of aim-disturbing means D2 whereby rotative motion may be imparted to pulley :i4-and hence to contacts-carrying member Slifrom said aimdisturbing means. `In the Iform of construction illustrated in Figs. 3, 5 and 7, groups of conductors (six such groups being shown) from cable C1 are led through and secured in as many channels 35, 36" through pulley 34, from which points the groups are subdivided into individual conductors leading to the contact points. The usefuly life .of theconductor groups may be lengthened by loosely Supporting the 31 (Fig. 7). l

As shown in Fig. 5, the switch arm 25 may be swingable in an annular housing 4U, e. g., may move `within a groove 4|` in such housing: if de sired, the housing may be provided with an annular flange (not shown) more `or less covering stationary contact points 30a.

, In Fig. 6 is shown the structure of the aimdisturbing means. rIhe same includes a shaft 5ttthe upper end of which protrudes through an opening 5I in panel 2. At its lower end it is supported by a bearing block 52 mounted on the botr .tom panel 4 of box 3. Intermediate the ends of the shaft 55. and preferably in the plane of pulley 34, there is xedly mounted on the shaft a peripherally grooved pulley 53 receiving belt 35. A thumb button Aor knob 54 is fixed to the protrud ing upper end of shaft 50.

Fig. 8' illustrates use of batteries B1 and B2, such, for instance, as the common flashlight battery, vcontained within the device, as source of electric current. The invention is not restricted to'use of batteries as current source but rather includes the employment of current from any .suitable source. In Figs. 8 and 3, the lead from battery .B1 to the contact points on rotary switch S1 bears the reference character C3. C4, a similar lead, connects battery B2 with the contact points on rotary switch S2;

As is well known in the electrical arts, the contacts-carrying `members 30 Iof the rotary switches S1 and S2 may be formed from insulat-v ing material, the contact points only being conductive; or, Vit may be formed 'from conductive material-in which event the contact points are individually to be? .insulated therefrom. The

latter as by a supporting disc sleeve member 32 preferably is made sulating material.

The playing surface of the device may, as indicated hereinbefore, be co-extensive with the upper surface of the top panel. It may consist merely of a decorated coating applied to all, or a part of, the upper surface of the top panel. In the alternative, I contemplate superimposing decorative panels over portions only, e. g., over the "target areas, of the top panel of the device, which decorative panels can either be pennanently i'lxed or detachabl-y secured to the latter.

It is within my contemplation of the invention to so modify the device to accommodate more than two players. Thus, the device Amay com-prise four target areas, four rotary switch means and four aim-disturbing means, appropriately spaced on and in a relatively square box or like container.

An explanation of a game playable by two players player No. 1 and player No. 2) on the above-described apparatus follows:

The players play alternately, the order of their playing being determined by lot lor in -any other appropriate manner. Each player, in his turn, hres a predetermined number of salvosf say, a single salvo, at the target area adjacent his opponent, the player endeavoring by said salvo to energize that target to which a higher or the highest scoring value has been assigned.

Each of the targe areas T1 and I2 includes twenty-nine in'dividually-energizable targets arranged as follows: in the outermost ring, sixteen targets; in the second ring, eight targets; in the third ring, four targets; and in the center, one target. Each such target in area T1 (or T2) is electrically connected with one of the Vstationary contact points 30a. on rotary switch means S1 (or S2, respectively), there being twenty-nine contact points on S1 (and S2).

The energization of a target, during play, is scored as follows: a target in the outermost ring, 25 points; a target in the second ring, 50 points; a target in the third ring, 75 points; the center target, points.

A play consists in one players lighting one target, in that players turn. A game consists in an arbitrary number (e. g., twenty) of plays by each player, and is won by that player whose total point score for the full number ofplays is the higher. A play is effected as follows: Player No. 1, operating switch S1, retracts knob 26a, on switch arm 25 thereby preventing contact 2B carried by the knob from contacting any of the stationary contact points 30a, swings switch arm 25 any distance to right or to left, at will, and pushes forward member 26a thereby` making contact between contact 26 and the selected Contact point 39a, and hence energizing one target of target area T1-say, atarget in the second ring, for which he scores fty points. While player No. 1 is making his play, player No. 2 may, as often as and to any extent he desires, manipulate aim-disturbing means D2 whereby rotatably to move member 30 of switch means S1 of player No. 1, either in clockwise or counterclockwise direction or in a plurality of directions successively, and hence to disturb the aim of player No. 1 (i. e., to render it impossible for his oppofrom innentto retain any reliable association between any particular contact point 30a of his rotary switch means and any particular target of the associated target area) Thereupon, player No. 2 similarly makes a .play, by retracting member 26a on switch arm made during that game.

Srfoflswitch S2, .'swinginggarm 25 at-will; clockwise or counterclockwise any number ,ofl spaces,

andxpushing forwardY member 26a thereby making contact between contact 26 andthe selected contact point a on member 3B of switch S2, and hence energizing one target of targetV area Tz-say, the center target, for which he scores 100 points. While player No. 2 :is making his "play, player No. 1 may at will manipulate aim-- disturbing means D1, as above described with respect to the previous play, and thereby yspoil the aim of player No.2. y The above game is susceptible of many variations. Forexample, the chance energization of an'A arbitrarily -selected target-say, the center targetmay be scored as winning a game regardless of thenumber ,of plays which 'have been Each of the switch means S1 and S2 may, if desired', be associated with shielding means (not shown `in the drawing) similar Ytoshielding means W1 and W2 shown in the drawing in Vassociation with aim-disturbing means l2)1 Iand D2, whereby tofscreen one players manipulation of his switch means from the view of his opponent. desired, member of the switch means S1 (and S2) may have such configuration that ready view,

from above, of the -contact points on member -30` is obscured. Also, member 3!) may be provided with a greater number of contact points than there are energizable targets in the associated target area, in which case the excess contact points are not vparts of any circuit but are scorable as dudsf Iclaim: Y v

, 1. A game apparatus for use by a player and conjointly. by an opposed player, said game apparatus comprising in combination, atarget means including agrouped plurality of individually energizable elements; a rotary switch means operable by said player and comprising a rotatable switch arm anda rotatable -contact plate vcarrying thereon a plurality of` contact points at least as numerous as are said energizable elements; conductors adapted to establish circuits through a power source, saidrotary switch means and said yenergizable elements selectively; and means remote from said rotary switch means and operable'only by an opposed player for rotating said rotatable contact plate to dispose the contact points carriedV thereon-innew positions. f

2.-A game apparatus kfor use by two opposed players, comprising, ink combination, two spaced target means each including a grouped plurality of individuallyenergizable elements; two rotary switchmeans each adjacent one of said target means, each rotary switch means comprising a manually operable rotatable switch arm and a rotatable Contact plate having a plurality of contacts adapted to be wiped by said switch arm, said contact plate having at least as many contacts asthere are energizable elements ofthe remote targetmeans; conductors `adapted to establish circuits respectively. from a power source through each of said rotary swit-ch means to one of the energi'zable elements of the remote target means Also, if

shaft .saidgswitch arm: is secured; .a sleeve member supported by and rotatable about said' shaft intermediate its ends, to the upper endvof which fil playera compri-sing, in combination, .two spaced dependent upon the position .of the switch arm;

and means under the control of each player respectively and shielded from the view of the opposed player for rotating the contact plate of the i opposed players rotary switch means.

3. A game apparatus as defined in claim 2., in

which each of said rotary switchmeans includes target groups of individually energizable electric light elements; tworotary switch means each kadjacent one of said .target means, each rotary switch means comprising a substantially vertical shaft, a bearing vmember rotatably supporting the shaft at itsjlower end, a sleeve 'member supported by and rotatable about said shaft, va manually operable rotatable .switch armsecured tothe upper end of said shaft, a rotatable contact plate secured to said sleeve member adjacent its upper end and having a plurality of contacts adapted to be wiped by said switch arm, said `contact plate having at least as many contacts as there are energizable elements of .the remote target means, and a pulley secured to the lower end nt' said sleeve member and yadapted to impart rotary movement through the latter .to said contact plate; conductors adapted to establish circuits respectively from a powersource through each of said `rotary switchrmeans to `one of the energizable elements of the remote target group dependent upon the position of the switch arm; and means under the control of each player respectively and .shielded fromthe view of the opposed player for rotating the contact plate of the opposed players rotary switch means, keach said rotating mean-s comprising a rotatably-supported shaft,apulley secured to the 1atter,-and an endless band passing between said pulley Iand the pulley of the opposed players rotary switch means. Y

- 5; A game apparatus including, in'comblnation, a playing surface, target means including a plurality of individually energizable `elements viewable from above said playing surface, rotary switch means located partly below said playing surface, said rotary switch means comprising a rotatable contactplate Vhaving thereon at least as many contact points as there are energizable elements in said target means and a manually operable switch arm for Vselective adjustment with respect to said contact points, means for establishing electrical circuits from a current source through said rotary switch means to one of the energizable elements dependent upon the position of the switch arm; means remote from said rotary switch means and substantially concealed beneath said playing surface and operatively connected with said rotary switch means for rotating said contact plate.

. 6. 'A game 'apparatus comprising an yelongated substantially rectangular box, a. toppanel closing said box `and providing a playing surface thereon, a targetmeans including a plurality of individually energizable velectric light `elements generally disposed within. said box` but having portions thereof visible from above said playing surface, rotary switch means disposed partly within said `boinsaid rotary rswitch means comprising a manually operable rotatable switch arm and a rotatable disc-like member carrying on vits surface a plurality of contact points adapted to be contacted by said `switch arm, there being-at least as many contact points as there are electric light elements, said switch `arm and said disc-like member being accessible from above said playing surface, a source of current, conductors disposed within said box adapted tz) establish electrical circuits from said current source through said electric light elements selectively and said rotary `switch means, and means remote from said rotary switch means and generally disposed within said box for rotating the disc-like members of said rotary switch means.

7. A game apparatus for use by two opposed players, said apparatus comprising an elongated substantially rectangular box, a top panel closing said box and providing a playing surface thereon, two spaced target means each including a plurality of individually energizable electric light elements generally disposed within said box but having portions thereof Visible from above said playing surface to define a target area, two spaced rotary switch means each adjacent one of said target means and each comprising a rotatable disc-like member carrying on its surface at least as many contact points as there are electric light elements in that target means which is remote from the rotary switch means and a manually operable rotatable switch arm adapted for selective adjustment with respect to said contact points, the switch arm and the contact-carrying disc-like member of each rotary switch means being accessible from above said playing surface, a source of current, conductors disposed generally within said box for establishing electrical circuits respectively from said current source through one of said rotary switch means to the electric light elements of the remote target means selectively and said switch means under control of said switch arms, and means under the control of each player, respectively, and shielded from the view of the opposed player for rotating the rotatable disc-like member of the opposed players rotary switch means.

CHARLES HAROLD SHIREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,858,060 Ricci May 10, 1932 2,140,671 `Dysart Dec. 20, 1938 2,442,014 Myers May 25, 1948 

